About the Role

Please note that there are 2 roles available (1 Permanent and 1 Fixed Term Contract until 31 March 2026). Both posts are full time. 

Do you want to be part of a vibrant, interdisciplinary team of psychologists?  Do you want to contribute to teams conducting innovative research and working at the forefront of teaching and learning in psychology?

If so, we are seeking two lecturers to join us as academic members of the School of Psychology & Counselling in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. You will have a key role in keeping the OU at the forefront of supported distance higher education, particularly in designing and facilitating effective teaching of the School’s modules, qualifications and programmes.  The post holder will be involved in (a) maintaining, developing and teaching our British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited psychology qualifications for which we are particularly keen to hear from candidates with expertise in biological and/or social psychology and/or mental health and the ability to teach quantitative methods; and (b) research that has a strong applied focus, primarily using quantitative methods and is aligned to one of our research strand themes, Cultural and Social Psychology (CuSP), Forensic Cognition (FCRG), and Psychology of Health and Wellbeing (PHeW) forming the Open Psychology Research Centre (OPRC).
 

Key Responsibilities

The person appointed will be expected to contribute to the teaching, research and administration of the School, Faculty and University in the following ways:

Teaching 

• Contribute to teams producing, presenting and updating relevant modules and qualifications for the School of Psychology & Counselling.
• Play a leading role in the teaching of quantitative methods across UG and PG curriculum.
• Play a leading role in the teaching of biological and/or mental health and/or social psychology.
• Support teaching and learning activity appropriate to online and distance education and qualifications for The Open University.
• Take an active role in School and Faculty activities and groups developing innovative curricula and pedagogies.
• Contribute to the production and delivery of interdisciplinary curricula involving psychology within The Open University curriculum more broadly.

Research 

• Engage actively in research and produce high quality research outputs that have the potential to be entered in a future REF exercise (or equivalent) for Unit 04 Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience.
• Demonstrate a research synergy with, or extension to, areas investigated by members of the School in at least one of the existing three research strands. 
• Contribute to research activities and events complementary to on-going research in the School, Faculty and the Open Psychology Research Centre, and take an active role in research communities.
• Engage actively in making external research grant applications.
• Supervise research students.

Academic Management 

• Contribute to academic management within the School, Faculty and University, as required by the Head of School.

Skills and Experience

You will hold a PhD or equivalent in psychology or a cognate discipline. You will be familiar with teaching BPS core curriculum and have experience of teaching and/or management of teaching, and an understanding of student support in an online/distance learning context. You will have demonstrable experience and interest in contemporary trends and practices in quantitative methods. You will also be an active researcher producing high quality research outputs appropriate for career stage.

Please click HERE for the full job description. 

If you would like to discuss the particulars of this role before making an application, please email FASS-Psych-Co-HoS@open.ac.uk and we will be happy to arrange a time to talk. 
 

Essential Requirements

Hybrid working will be available for the successful candidate, but there will be a requirement to travel to Milton Keynes when required, as business needs dictate.

To apply for this role please submit the following;

CV and Supporting Statement, up to 1,000 words. You should set out in your statement why you’re interested in this role and provide examples of where your skills and experience meet the required competencies for this role as detailed in the above essential and desirable criteria.